Coach Sloan at the entrance of the stadium that now bears his name.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Coach Tommy Sloan speaks during ceremonies Friday evening.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
On a night when its football facility was officially christened Tommy Sloan Stadium, Midway found the offensive balance it had been looking for in a 55-32 win over visiting West Bladen on Friday.
“We preached it all week. We want to be able to throw and run,” said Midway coach Cory Barnes. “We saw we can run the ball tonight when we focus on it. Much, much better tonight.”
Three different Raiders (2-1) rushed for over 100 yards in the contest. Senior Carson Calcutt ran for 183 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, junior Jam Rich ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries and junior Deantae Byrd ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Calcutt also completed 5-of-7 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception and Rich also had an eight-yard reception.
“We want to play option football and that’s what I want,” Barnes said. “Keep everybody fresh as much as we can and get people touches. That’s what we’re about.”
Jaden Covington had a 50-yard reception. Cameron Barefoot had a 33-yard touchdown reception. Dante Blue ran for 13 yards on four carries and had a 29-yard reception. Carsse Lucas had an 11-yard touchdown reception.
Midway forced four turnovers in the contest. Lucas and Blue each had an interception, Drew Matthews recovered a fumble and Johnyren Parker recovered an onside kick.
The Knights (0-2) were led by junior quarterback Tyre Boykin, who was 8-for-13 passing for 171 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions, and ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.
Prior to the game, a ceremony was held to honor and officially name the stadium after legendary former Midway coach Tommy Sloan. Numerous former players from across the four decades Sloan’s coaching career spanned were on hand to participate in the ceremony. At halftime, the sign at the stadium entrance welcoming attendees to Tommy Sloan Stadium was unveiled.
Byrd set the tone early for Midway’s offense. On the fourth play from scrimmage, just under two minutes into the game, he scored on a 25-yard run.
“I was happy,” Barnes said. “We got the ball first and finally went down and scored on offense. The past two games we got the ball first and kind of sputtered to start with. We got the run game going and got a couple of plays down the field in the pass game. That’s how we want to play football.”
The teams traded scores early until a series of events late in the first quarter and early in the second allowed the Raiders to get separation.
Byrd scored on a three-yard run, followed by an extra point from Reese Register, gave Midway a 21-12 lead with just over one minute left in the first. Parker recovered the ensuing onside kick, which led to Rich scoring on a four-yard run to start the second quarter. Midway maintained at least a two-score lead from there.
Another key sequence happened shortly before halftime. Lucas caught an 11-yard touchdown from Calcutt and made an interception on the next play from scrimmage. One play later, Calcutt scored on a 25-yard run.
One week after naming its stadium for Tommy Sloan, Midway will face the team coached by his son, Barrett Sloan, a former Raiders quarterback, as Midway travels to Sampson County rival Lakewood (3-0) on Friday night.
Sloan’s former players were recognized. One representative from each decade spoke. Allen McLamb, representing the 1970s, has the microphone.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Drew Matthews (56) disrupts a play with a tackle for loss.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Cameron Barefoot hauls in a touchdown pass for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway quarterback Carson Calcutt follows the blocking of Jam Rich.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Javen Covington of the Raiders has a grip on a jersey on a sack.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Dante Blue (2) gets past a defender for a score.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
